4454
F 8-
VI. MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS.
14. The magnetic station at Au Tau has been kept in action throughout the year, except from Sept. 26th to Oct. 16th, when structural alterations were in progress. A detailed record of the results obtained at the station during 1983 is now in the press.
VII.-TIME SERVICE,
15. Clocks Cottingham and Mercer 507 (Sidereal) and The necessary Leroy 1350 were in use throughout the year. astronomical observations for the determination of the error of the former were obtained each evening (weather permitting) by the local staff. Observations of the radio time signals emitted by Nauen at 8h a.m. have been made daily whenever possible during the year, and utilised for clock regulations.
16. Time Signals were given throughout the year by radio from 9.55 to 10 a.m. each morning and 8.55 to 9 p.m. each evening. Dots of about 0.1 sec duration were transmitted at each second except for periods marking the minutes and half minutes. The evening programme was duplicated by 3 white lights (vertical) on the radio mast, the lights being extinguished each second in accordance with the radio programme.
Hourly signals were sent to the General Post Office, Radio Studio, Railway, the associated Telegraph Companies, and the Telephone Co.
The dropping of the Timeball ceased on 30th June, with the approval of the Naval authorities and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the opinion being expressed that in comparison with radio-telegraphy and telephony the method had become obsolete. The ball was dropped without failure be tween 1st January and 30th June.
F 9
20. Lithography. Lithographic work for other depart- ments was undertaken as follows:-
For Dept. Medical and
Sanitary Services
Colonial Secretariat
H.M.S. Hermes
Electrical Dept.
25,270 Charts
1,120 Maps
500 Maps
100 Forms.
21. Staff. The Assistant Director, Mr. B. D. Evans, was on leave from 25th March to 29th November.
22. Expenditure. The annual expenditure on the Observa- tory, for the past 10 years has been as follows:-
Year.
Personal Emoluments and other
Special
Total Expenditure. Expenditure.
Total Revenue.
Charges.
1924
c.
$c.
$ c.
C.
41,011.48
11,627.01
52,638,49
14.00
1925
41,955.51
41,955.51
79.20
1926
42,566.65
12,341.74
54,908.39
34.20
The errors of the time signals have been published monthly in the Government Gazette.
1927
47,253.17
145.24
47,398.41
30.50
1928
47,292.83
272.70 47,565.03
506.10
VIII. INTERNATIONAL LONGITUDE DETERMINATIONS, 17. In this connection the radio time signals emitted by Tokio and Annapolis were observed whenever possible.
1929
49,282.63
48,282.63
530.50
1930
68,696.39
1,670.07
70,366.66
506,80
IX. MISCELLANEOUS.
18. Seismographs. The seismographs have been kept in good order throughout the year. 356 earthquakes were recorded compared with 430 in 1932. The seismograms have been for- warded to the International Seismological Committee, Oxford.
19.
Upper Air Research. Observations of 415 pilot balloons were made during the year. Details of the flights will be in- cluded in Meteorological Results for 1933..
23. In the following table the expenditure and revenue for 1932 is compared with that for 1983.
1981
76,037.81
76,037.81
735.00
1932
69,518.23
69,518.25
598.00
1933
63,165.42
63,165.42
600.30
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